Anonymous
By an edhat reader
The three guys in the attached video tagged an entire wall at 433 Chapala St. tonight at approximately 12:30 am. I saw them at the tail end of their job. They saw me and came my way and then decided to go the opposite direction. I called 911 and let them know this just happened and I had video, but like usual I was told to go online and file a police report. This must have taken a considerable amount of time? That lot is on the corner of Haley and Chapala, it’s empty and pretty well lit. There is so little police presence that crimes are being done in plain sight with no fear of getting caught.
Your breathless account seems a bit strained. “Crimes are being done in plain sight with no fear of being caught.”??? Seems like these criminals fled upon being observed so they did evidence some degree of fear of being caught. And unpleasant as it is, graffiti is not a serious threat to the safety of the community.
Crimes were committed in plain sight – full public view. This does demonstrate impunity. Vandalism and property damage is a crime. They committed this crime. Leaving the scene of the crime after being caught on camera is another thing entirely. No excuses. Gang membership requires increasing acts of crime and violence in order to get “jumped” into the gang. Graffiti is often the first level activity. Just keep that in mind when you see groups of young people in the act of committing the crime of vandalism and/or graffiti, you may or may not be witnessing gang activity – leave that for the police to decide. This is not public art – the difference between art and graffiti is permission. Unlikely if they had permission, they would not have explained this to the person photoing their proud efforts.
1846 – Nothing “strained” about this reported vandalism? Possible, if this garbage (minor crime ) continues in plain sight, some clowns in this city will believe they can move up and begin “hitting” businesses as is being done in the larger cities, “in plain sight.” It may not be a threat to the community but what about the business owners that are “tagged.” Are you willing to go out to each and pay the cost to clean up this garbage?
Meh. Worse problems out there than some paint on a wall
Anyone else kind of sad that we seem to have pervasive surveillance all over town, every house has a doorbell camera, every building has cameras, and yet crime seems to go unpunished.
“Broken Windows” Policing NEEDS to be re-instated. I wonder how the moron’s on this site who “don’t have an issue” with graffiti would feel if their business or private property was damaged…(I guess they have no stake in the game as losers)
Yeah, it’s kind of a bad thing for a town when crimes are regularly committed and the police and pols are like, “meh”… even if they aren’t triple homicides.
Don’t waste too much frustration arguing with people who don’t understand why it’s important and where it leads. They’re likely missing a few screws, or maybe live up on the Riviera with a really good perspective from which to look down on people who have to live with it.
1:10 how’d you like to see your business/property tagged like this when you wake up in the morning? Or do you think it’s a cool look? Kinda SB hip to have puto graffiti all over your town? Wow.
Yes, I am sad at the state of the city. Maybe with the new mayor there will be the annual state of the city speech AND attention given to the small but important quality of life issues. Downtown cameras on streets, as are on Stearns Wharf, would be good to identity such trashers as these guys.
How is the current toxic culture of the SBPD not the fault of the SBPD? How many bad hires, bad leaders, poor decisions have these people made in the last 10 years? We’re on our 4th chief in that same period. With the last full time hire being among the worst. Apparently she was hired based solely on her sex as her record was anything but strong…
I find it strange that you don’t put the reasons for lack of recruitment on the very people who created and fostered a toxic culture that is the SBPD. Change comes from within, but only when the toxicity is removed and the a healthy culture fostered. As Steve Jobs famously said: “A players do not want to work with B players”…
Disagree heavily. It has become obvious that every police department bears significant responsibility for the climate they have created. The militant attitude and blatant, disturbing protection of their brethren over the public good has bred this. Our local PDs are no different. Kaci Beutel, Jeremy Rogers, WHY on earth are these people still employed in law enforcement? Because law enforcement cares about their own more than the public, and choice of inaction is clear as day. Nothing about the lack of qualified applicants is surprising. They need to start helping themselves by overhauling the good ol boy clubs and me-first attitudes they have bred for decades.